Union
Art work by S Mark Gubb
25th September - 28th November 2010
Usher Gallery, Lincoln

S Mark Gubb was commissioned in collaboration with the Usher Gallery to develop a series of flags, which flew atop the building for 10 weeks. This marked the launch of the gallery’s reopening after its refurbishment.
Titled Union, S Mark Gubb used the project as an opportunity to explore the history and representation of national identity within the Union Jack.  Gubb used each of the Usher Gallery’s flagpoles to hoist an alternative historical variation on the standard Union flag design.

Flying at the front of the building were two designs The Welsh Dragon and The Scottish Union flag.  Former Wrexham Labour MP, Ian Lucas, designed the Welsh Dragon flag to highlight the lack of Welsh representation within the current flag. In 2007 Mr Lucas proposed that the Welsh emblem of a Red Dragon be placed in the centre of the Union Jack, to reflect an increasing Welsh independence within the UK.  The matter was debated within the House of Commons and sparked wide spread discussions and even further redesigns.

The Scottish Union Flag is the first and original design that sort to illustrate a united union. It was produced to celebrate the beginning of James I reign, in 1606, after he inherited the English and Irish thrones. Although remaining separate states, this was the first time that an element from individual flags where amalgamated to simplify a now united country.

At the back of the building the Protectorate Jack and Re-flag flew. The Protectorate Jack was produced to rectify the underrepresented of the Kingdom of Ireland.

BACK

Photo Credits, Tom Cretney

Similar to the Welsh Dragon design, the Irish emblem was placed in the centre of the existing Union Jack.Despite being used for just under a 100 years the Irish arms was removed in 1660, following the restoration of the monarchy under King Charles II. It has been disputed whether this was due to a personal grievance towards the Irish. In 1707 the present day flag was redesigned and became the official Union Jack.

Re-flag is the most resent adaptation of the Union Jack. Heading a campaign in 2003, the design sort to address the diversity of a multicultural Britain. Nigel Turner, a campaigner for multicultural Britain suggested that the introduction of black within the Union Jack would promote a positive statement about the progression of a multiracial society. However the design was criticized for over simplifying the issues surrounding racial equalities and was never official used.

The flags were launched on top of the Usher Gallery with a ceremony in front of the gallery where traditional cakes from the four nations were served, and a bugler played as the flags rose.